History
James Sprunt Community College maintains a tradition of quality education begun in Duplin County over 200 years ago with the founding of Grove Academy, a private academy for boys, in 1784.
The college is named for Dr. James Menzies Sprunt, a Scottish Presbyterian who immigrated to America and settled in Duplin County in about 1840. Dr. Sprunt became President of Grove Academy in 1845, serving in this position for 15 years.
In about 1860, Dr. Sprunt assumed the Presidency of the Kenansville Seminary, a female seminary begun in 1857, and served as its President until 1861, when he went into the Confederate Army as Chaplain of the 20th Regiment, North Carolina troops.
After re-opening in 1865 as an institution for girls, the Kenansville Seminary later became co-educational, and operated as such until it closed in 1896. The campus property was purchased and, in 1897, deeded to the Wilmington Presbytery for “building and maintaining a school of collegiate grade for the promotion of Christian education” for girls. When reopened, the school was named the James Sprunt Institute, in honor of the distinguished President who had led both the Grove Academy and the old Kenansville Seminary.
The Institute operated under the name of James Sprunt until 1918 when, at the request of the Trustees, the Presbytery changed the name to Grove Institute. This change was, in effect, a symbolic merging of the educational spirit of the old Grove Academy and Kenansville Seminary under one new name.
Grove Institute continued to operate until the mid-1920’s. Thus, an educational tradition, begun in 1784 and carried out by two of Kenansville’s most distinguished early academies, was re-established in the 1960’s with the founding of the “new” James Sprunt Institute, bearing the name of the distinguished President whose leadership these two early academies had shared.
The “new” James Sprunt Institute began in 1960 as the Duplin County Unit of the Goldsboro Industrial Education Center, the first extension unit of North Carolina’s rapidly growing system of industrial education centers. The unit opened in an old agricultural shop behind the Rose Hill Elementary School, offering a program of instruction in Automotive Mechanics.
Practical Nurse Education was added in 1962. The first graduating class, in July 1963, distinguished themselves by achieving the highest class scores-and the highest individual score-on the N.C. Licensed Practical Nursing Examination that year.
On March 12, 1964, the County Board of Commissioners and the County Board of Education voted to expand the unity, then operating as a branch of Wayne Technical Institute, and to re-name it James Sprunt Institute.
James Sprunt Institute was given a permanent home in August 1964 when the County Commissioners appropriated funds to purchase a 53.18 acre campus site located one mile south of Kenansville. A $265,000 training facility was constructed, opening its doors in the fall of 1966. The temporary administrative buildings were an old tenant house and library located on the campus. Prior to this, classes were being taught in temporary facilities, in every township in the county, to over 500 part-time students in vocational and technical education, adult basic education, and the arts and humanities. James Sprunt became an independent institution, separate from Wayne Technical Institute, on September 7, 1967, when it was placed under the authority of the Duplin County Board of Education. An eight-member Board of Trustees was appointed, and Dixon S. Hall was named as President.
On July 1, 1971, James Sprunt Institute was chartered as a technical institute within the North Carolina Community College System, with a twelve member Board of Trustees, independent of the Duplin County Board of Education.
Many changes have taken place since the college’s early beginnings. The campus is attractive and its facilities are well equipped to serve the student population. Seven modern buildings provide classrooms, laboratories, shop areas, administrative offices, a 300-seat auditorium, media center, a 22,000 volume library, and a modern student center with cafeteria and student bookstore. From a full-time equivalent (FTE) student enrollment of 114 in 1964- 65, the institution has increased its student population to an average annual FTE figure of 1060 for academic year 2007-2008. The college now enrolls over 1900 students in at least one curriculum course each year and serves over 6800 individuals annually through some form of instruction. Students now enroll in one of 26 different curricula which include degree, diploma, and certificate programs in a wide variety of occupational fields and college transfer or enroll in one of the college’s continuing education programs which include literacy education, occupational extension, and community education.
In 1969, the college initiated a general education program with a college transfer option through a contractual agreement with the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. This program grew from an initial FTE enrollment of 17 in 1969-70 to a FTE enrollment of 98 by 1986-87. The program offered students a wide range of courses and two full years of college transfer credit. Under the terms of the agreement with UNC-W, James Sprunt hired a college transfer faculty; this faculty taught most of the courses in the program. The faculty, while small, was highly qualified; by 1985 it boasted two Ph.D’s and two doctoral candidates. The other faculty members all had Master of Arts degrees in the disciplines they taught. The college had become in fact, but not in name, a comprehensive community college. In 1985, in recognition of this reality, James Sprunt applied for community college status. The legislature of North Carolina and the State Board of Community Colleges approved the request in 1986; the college has since been offering Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees. Since the change in status, the college’s mission has remained the same and the transfer program has largely continued to function as it had for ten years. The change has been important, however, because it has clarified the college’s image in the community and simplified procedures in the transfer program.
Under the leadership of four able Presidents, the college has developed many innovative programs, many of which have become state or national models. In September 1974 a Duplin County Articulation Project was initiated as a joint effort between James Sprunt and the Duplin County Public Schools as a pilot model for the state to improve coordination of occupational education programs between public schools and community colleges. The articulation program between James Sprunt and the Duplin County high schools was established in July 1979. Through this program selected high school seniors received advanced college credits in specified course and programs upon their enrollment at James Sprunt. This program became a model in the state.
In January 1981 the college instituted a “Learning for Living” program in the humanities through a three-year grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. This was the third grant received from NEH over a nine-year period to establish a model humanities program for technical and vocational students. The program has since received national recognition.
In 1989, another NEH grant enabled the college to implement a “core studies” program in the humanities for students in the college transfer program. This program combines literature, art and history in a parallel sequence of courses tracing the development of the Western tradition. The core studies program has also received national recognition.
The college now operates as many as 15 extension sites, including workplace sites, as particular needs arise throughout the county. Offering programs in adult basic education, HSE preparation and English Language Acquisition(ELA) courses, these centers have greatly expanded the college’s outreach in providing needed literacy programs for the under-educated portion of Duplin County’s citizens.
The college established a small foundation in 1973 for the purpose of raising funds to support projects and activities state and federal monies simply could not cover. Now in its 34th year, the Foundation distributes monies from its endowments to support student scholarships. It also supports programs of innovative teaching techniques, special institutional projects, and awards of recognition for faculty and students.
The leadership development program received the notice of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, which awarded a $373,000 grant to the program in 1998. With assistance of these funds, the program spawned the Duplin County Center for Leadership Development, which provides formal training programs to develop citizen leaders.
Also, 1998, the college dedicated its sixth main campus building, the Helen A. Boyette Building. Honoring this charter member and former chairman of the Board of Trustees, the building houses the college library, distance learning center, and continuing education offices and classrooms.
Celebrating its 40th year in 2004, James Sprunt Community College continues to expand the number and range of educational programs and services available to the adult citizenry of Duplin County. In the spring of 2005, the college opened its seventh campus building, the Zettie Brinson Williams Building, named in honor of long-time trustee Mrs. Zettie Williams. The Williams Building houses computer technology classrooms and labs, student support services programs, and emergency medical training, as well as having distance learning capabilities.
In January 2005, the college welcomed its fifth president, Dr. Lawrence L. Rouse, following the retirement of Dr. Mary Wood, who led the college for five years. The college continued many new initiatives under Dr. Rouse’s leadership, including the establishment of an employee leadership development program, a minority male mentoring program, and a renewed focus on student success as the college’s number one priority.
In the fall of 2006, the college instituted its newest curriculum program, Viticulture and Enology in response to the many changes and transitions taking place in agriculture and agri-business. James Sprunt was only the second community college in the state to offer this program. Working closely with regional grape and wine industries, the program provided additional opportunities for agri-business development in our eastern region.
2009 marked the 45th anniversary of James Sprunt Community College and a re-commitment to the enduring goals that have made James Sprunt successful. Also, in 2009, the Duplin Early College High School was approved by the JSCC Board of Trustees and Duplin County Board of Education with the location of the facility at JSCC.
In 2010, Eastern Carolina Food Ventures Incubator Kitchen opened and is designed to help develop food entrepreneurs, create new food businesses, help existing food businesses, and provide a workforce development resulting in new job creation. It is located at the West Park Business Technology Center in Warsaw, NC and is managed by JSCC’s Small Business Center.
The College celebrated its’ 50th anniversary in 2014. The College held its first Presidential Gala Scholarship fundraiser.
In 2015, JSCC hosted the first Health Sciences Luncheon as an investment in the nursing program. The late Dr. Edward L. Boyette was honored by having the nursing/health services wing of the McGowen Building named in his honor. The JSCC Leadership Development Center was renamed in honor of Mrs. Delilah T. Gomes. The administrative area of McGowen was named in honor of the Honorable Albert R. Brown.
Dr. Lawrence L. Rouse was named the 2016 President of the Year by the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges. The Diesel School facility, located in Warsaw, NC, had its’ grand opening.
The college is named as the best community college in the state of North Carolina and second best in the United States by SmartAsset.com for 2017-18.
Dr. Rouse left the college in 2018 to become president of Pitt Community College in Greenville, N.C. He is the longest serving president to date serving over 13 years.
On April 29, 2019, Dr. Jay Carraway became the sixth president of James Sprunt Community College after serving as Vice President of Continuing Education for Lenoir Community College in Kinston, NC. Dr. Carraway has 38 years of experience in the North Carolina Community College System.
The diversity and scope of the college’s programs, its innovative and cooperative ventures, all support James Sprunt Community College’s continual efforts to fulfill its educational mission.
Strengthening the communities we serve through innovative education and partnerships to create a more successful tomorrow.
James Sprunt Community College responds to the individualized educational and workforce development needs of the community by increasing accessibility, providing innovative teaching, and expanding community partnerships.
- To partner with students who, through educational programs and support services, are prepared for the workforce or for continued education at other institutions of higher learning.
- To enhance student academic credential achievement and retention by improving the total college experience.
- To support the professional development and career advancement of our staff and faculty and foster a collegial atmosphere of open communication, innovation, and partnerships among students and faculty.
- To ensure high quality in all programs and services by providing students, faculty, and staff with appropriate facilities, equipment, and technology.
- To involve the college in addressing community needs and goals and to build relationships with local, state, and national partners in an effort to improve our community’s economic and workforce competitiveness.
- To ensure funding received from all sources utilized by the college is in line with the mission, goals, and priorities of the institution, as well as the educational needs of the community.
- To incorporate organizational excellence in all areas of the institution.
Core Values
- Learning: We provide high quality opportunities and necessary support services to help all students develop critical thinking skills and achieve their educational and employment goals.
- Partnerships: We develop partnerships with schools, business and industry, and community organizations to meet the needs of the 21st century workforce.
- Integrity: We uphold honesty, ethical behavior, and respect in pursuit of an atmosphere of transparency and accountability.
- Diversity: We value an educational environment that attracts, nurtures, and supports a diverse faculty, student, and staff community.
- Innovation: We strive to embrace an atmosphere of creativity and innovation for our students, faculty, and staff.
Location and Instructional Facilities
The college’s main campus is located in the population center of Duplin County, North Carolina, on NC Highway 11 South near the town of Kenansville. The 53-acre landscaped campus provides an attractive setting for an educational and cultural center for students and the community. The Kenansville campus is comprised of seven main buildings, housing administrative offices, classrooms, laboratories, vocational shops, library, cafeteria, and student center.
Based on local industry needs, James Sprunt Community College started a Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology program with classes beginning Fall 2016. This instructional facility was built totaling over 7.000 square feet with two 100 feet drive-thru bays in the shop area. The facility is located at the WestPark Complex in Warsaw, NC.
Many civic, education, and cultural organizations make use of the college’s facilities for meeting and workshops. Facilities are available upon request on a space-available basis.
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